Welcome to the Year in Photos 2012, where we highlight the best shots our intrepid team of photographers took throughout the year. In addition to live photos from shows in New York, Paris, and Oslo, to name a few, there are up-close and candid portraits of some of our favorite artists-- a wide-eyed Earl Sweatshirt, a mugging Bradford Cox, an elegant Bat for Lashes-- as well as playful animated GIFs from both the Pitchfork Music Festival and SXSW.

Thanks to all of our photo contributors, whose tireless efforts help make our site a lot more colorful, as well as all the artists, labels, managers, PR folks, and venues who make the art of music photography possible, too.